Fittingly, it was from my second greatest love, Jon Stewart, that Jeremiah and I learned that Barack Obama will be the next president of these United States. And I cried. At this moment, right now, the American Dream seems real. My little girls will now grow up in a United States in which a person can actually be judged by the content of his (or her) character and not the color of his (or her) skin. In a country where despite our claims of freedom, the paths of the lives of many of our fellow citizens have been largely determined by racism, we just elected a black president.
The past 8 years have left me so angry and so horrified by my government's actions that I only cared that Bush would be forced to leave the White House, I didn't even dare to hope that there would be a candidate I'd be excited to support. But the very thing that the bitter hate-mongers on Fox "News" like to sneer about, Obama's charisma, is part of what makes him a potentially great leader. To be able to rouse people to action is leadership. To inspire is leadership. So, as a matter of fact, I do have hope. I've always felt fortunate to have been born in this country, but this is the first time that I have been so very proud to be an American I feel like my heart could burst. My only regret is that Kate and Sarah are sound asleep, and too young to understand what just happened.
2 comments:
Kate and Sarah will have trouble understanding what the big deal was. Thank the god for that.
I'm an R, as you know; but I cried last night, too, feeling so very happy to see so many people in Grant Park - engaged,THINKING, choosing their candidate, and PARTICIPATING in their democracy. When Zane woke up this morning I told him we have a new president, and it is a historic moment. I am inspired by President Obama, and I am on board with him. I COULD do without, however, John Lewis. :)
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